ATI Radeon HD3800 series, now available. 256MB HD3850 $190, 512MB HD3870 $240 @ NCIX

[S_G]

http://www.ncix.com/go/?radeonhd3800

Yup, it's here. Read SKYMTL's review of the 3870 at HardwareCanucks as well, seems that this thing overclocks nicely on the memory. http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...html#post26213

Stock is supposed to be extremely limited for this week, but more should be coming in on Friday and next week. The few people who managed to order theirs earlier today are supposedly getting them shipped out already.

If you plan on gaming with higher resolutions or with AA/AF, stay away from the 3850. 256MB is not nearly enough to cope with the demand of anti-aliasing at higher resolutions. It will crash and burn.


HD 3870 series:
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3870 512MB GDDR4 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out VIVO Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26983 $239.99

HIS Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256BIT GDDR4 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26985 $239.99

Visiontek Radeon HD 3870 512MB GDDR4 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out VIVO Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27074 $239.99

HD 3850 series:
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out VIVO Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26984 $189.99

HIS Radeon HD 3850 256MB 256BIT GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=26986 $189.99

Visiontek Radeon HD 3850 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HCDP HDMI HDTV Out VIVO Video Card
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=27075 $189.99


How does it perform compared to the 8800GT? Not as well. If you clock up the memory, you'll get 8800GT performance, though an 8800GT can be overclocked even higher. Basically, it all comes down to a few factors. Maybe you want to run these in CrossFire, maybe you want a quieter/cooler/more energy efficient video card than the 8800GT, maybe you want a card NOW without having to wait forever, or pay much higher prices than MSRP.

If you do want absolute performance, though, this is not for you. The 8800GT, GTX, Ultra and GTS-112sp cards all perform better than this, though at a price.

(Mods, edit the links to your heart's content.)

Me? I'm sticking to my X1900XTX for now.

[ali123]

Why are stocks limited? ATI reported that they shipped alot

[ASharp]

Kind of tempted. I've been waiting for the last couple of days for these to pop up but, I'm kind of disappointed at the pricing. I mean, it's cheaper than an 8800GT is now, not to mention it's in stock but, I was kind of expecting something more to the tune of $220 or so. Performance on the card is good but, I was hoping for more or at least cheaper. Looks like I'll be waiting a bit for the 8800GT prices to fall before I get a video card.

[S_G]

Why are stocks limited? ATI reported that they shipped alot

They shipped a lot, but they haven't been received yet. NCIX is expecting them in on Friday.

[Loomy]

Re: the price

It will fall once the initial demand falls, just like the 8800GT price will.

The new 2900GT, which is a bit worse than the 2900PRO, which is a bit worse than the 3870, which in some things is a bit worse than the 8800GT, is already $165 at ncix: http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...4&promoid=1008

That is a new sale with only 15 in stock, but the price is just about what it should be, and is an indication of the future of the other cards too.

[Spare-Flair]

$189 CDN...

It's $179 US MSRP!!!

[nite4evr]

nice, now if somebody will throw some review and benchmarks out.

[npham]

http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3151

The article basically says this video card is about 85-90 percent of the performance of an 8800GT but is cheaper and supposed to be available in large numbers.

If they can sustain a better price point than the 8800GT, it will be a nice card for AMD.

[nite4evr]

http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3151

The article basically says this video card is about 85-90 percent of the performance of an 8800GT but is cheaper and supposed to be available in large numbers.

If they can sustain a better price point than the 8800GT, it will be a nice card for AMD.

Thanks for the review. So in the end 8800 still wins the fight if they are willling to lower their prices.

[Ren]

A price war with the upcoming 8800GT 256mb would be nice.

[Nutchos]

A price war with the upcoming 8800GT 256mb would be nice.

The 256mb version is what I'm waiting on to finally decide which card I'm going to get for my new build. I think i read on theinquirer that atleast one company is releasing one this friday to coincide with the 3800 series release at a 150GBP price point.

What this translates to in dollars and the performance of that card remains to be seen.

[MrDisco]

looks like a decent mid-range card, but what happens when the GT comes down in price? The only two things imo which 3870 edges out the GT is power consumption and HD playback.

[jiffylube1024]

looks like a decent mid-range card, but what happens when the GT comes down in price? The only two things imo which 3870 edges out the GT is power consumption and HD playback.

Probably a price cut of their own by AMD to follow. With the 3xxx series running on a 55nm process (vs 65nm for the 8800GT), as well as a 256-bit bus (down from the beefy/expensive 512-bit bus used on the 2900XT), they can keep prices very competitive.

And AMD will need to; the 8800GT is clearly the better, faster card. Unfortunately, availability of the 8800GT is the problem, so whichever company can maintain a supply of stock to stores will get some good business .

[dj6518]

Of the 3 cards,which brand name would you guys choose,i am not sure about any of them.

[Cisco KId]

Of the 3 cards,which brand name would you guys choose,i am not sure about any of them.

HIS would be my choice but imho wait and just get an 8800GT, it is just a better card if you want a gaming card.

How does it perform compared to the 8800GT? Not as well. If you clock up the memory, you'll get 8800GT performance, though an 8800GT can be overclocked even higher. Basically, it all comes down to a few factors. Maybe you want to run these in CrossFire, maybe you want a quieter/cooler/more energy efficient video card than the 8800GT, maybe you want a card NOW without having to wait forever, or pay much higher prices than MSRP.

If you do want absolute performance, though, this is not for you. The 8800GT, GTX, Ultra and GTS-112sp cards all perform better than this, though at a price.

What i said all along, the 8800GT is better,for 3850 @ $240 and with FS selling the XFX Alpha Dog 8800GT at $299 in stock right now with the price protection of 30 days and double lifetime warranty offer I say spend the extra or wait for GT prices to come down or stock to become more plentiful. If you look hard enough you can find them in stock at $279

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...03084BFCA9618E

Or just wait for , I am sure it will be $259 again which is more the normal price, at the diff of $20 the 8800GT is a no brainer. they will get more eventually and I am sure it will sell again at the sale price of $259 or less
http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pro...05B1B38B5DBB6C


last expect stock issues for the ATI cards just like the 8800GT, when you check stock 1-3 week delay extremeley allocated, lol